Safety winch crank



Aug. 18, 1959 Filed Sept. 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. [5/844 /Z fiasae,

E. M. REESER 2,899,840

SAFETY WINCH CRANK Aug. 18, 1959 E.. M. REESER SAFETY WINCH CRANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1958 I, I I aw i. W I I E JL M INVENTOR. [5/3/1 /7. fizz-55E Patented Aug. 18, 1959 2,899,840 SAFETY WINCH CRANK Esra] M. Reeser, Pecatonica, lll., assignor to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation Application September 26, 1958, Serial No. 763,694

6 Claims. (Cl. 74-1545) This invention relates to elevators and especially to those employed to convey crops such as corn ears, bales of hay, or other products from the ground level to an elevated opening such as provided in barns or silos. This invention specifically concerns a safety winch crank for manually adjusting the height of the discharge end of the elevator from the ground.

Devices of this nature usually comprise a hand crank secured to a winch provided with a drum on which is trained a cable. The cable usually passes about a series of sheaves and terminates in a pivoted leg or frame supporting the elevator. The elevator by this means is raised or lowered, thereby regulating the height of the elevator relative to the opening into which the crop is to be deposited.

Elevators of.the type under consideration are of heavy construction and frequently of a considerable length in order to reach up into openings of barns or silos. Therefore, considerable effort is required to manipulate the winch crank and in doing so the operator can lose control of the handle when raising or lowering the conventional elevator. When this occurs the operator is apt to be injured by the crank as it rotates out of control, and it is possible that the elevator may be damaged by a sudden drop.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for automatically arresting rotation of the winch crank of an elevator if the grip of the operator thereon is released.

Another object is to provide a means for holding the elevator at any desired height.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective side elevational view of an elevator embracing the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a portion of an elevator embracing the invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly in section of the portion of the invention shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view slightly reduced in size of the invention shown in dotted lines.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, 10 is a typical elevator of the type employed to elevate hay bales, bags of grain etc. Elevator 10 comprises a trough member 12, having a conveyor in the bottom thereof which travels lengthwise of the trough and serves to carry the material being conveyed upwardly. This conveyor not being a part of the invention, is not shown.

Trough 12 extends the length of the elevator 10 and is supported from the ground by an under-carriage 14, which is pivoted totrough 12., at point 16. Undercarriage 14, comprises a rearwardly-extending frame 18, and a forwardly-extending frame 20. Frames .18 and 20 are pivoted together at a point such as 22 so that the frames can pivot relative to each other. A tie member 24 is anchored at one end to rear frame 18, and at the other end to front frame 20 as shown in Fig. 1. Member 24 in this instance comprises a pair of rods. 26 and 28 linked to an intermediate length of chain 30 in order to provide flexibility when the elevator is raised or lowered. The purpose of member 24 is to limit the low position of the elevator when being transported. A roller 32 is pivoted at the upper end of front frame 20, and the lower panel of trough 12, rests on roller 32. The purpose of roller 32 is to permit front frame 20 to be raised and lowered about pivot 22 with a minimum of resistance.

A pair of transport wheels 34 and 36 are journalled on an axle 38 to provide the means of transporting the elevator 10. Axle 38, is made integral with rear frame 18, as by welding as shown in Fig. 1.

A means of manually raising or lowering the upper end of elevator 10 is shown in the drawings and indicated at 40. Raising means 40 comprises a shaft 42 journalled in bearings 44, only one of which is shown. Bearings 44 are mounted on their respective members of frame 18. Shaft 42 has affixed thereto a cable drum 46 as shown in Fig. 4.

A crank bracket 48 is secured to one angle member of frame 18, at a point spaced forwardly of shaft 42, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Bracket 48 has journalled thereon a shaft 50, the bearing for which is a sleeve 52 which is welded to bracket 48. Shaft 50 extends to a point beyond the sleeve 52, and a sprocket 54 having a hub 56 is secured to shaft 50 by a pin 58. A crank disk 60 is secured as by welding to hub 56.

A sprocket 62 is secured fixedly with shaft 42. A chain 64 is passed around sprockets 54 and 62 so that rotation of shaft 50 will also rotate shaft 42.

An idler block 66 is bolted to the frame member of frame 18 by a bolt 68. Chain 64 contacts block 66, the latter being adjustable to take up excessive slack in the chain 64. A cable of steel wire 70 is wound about drum 46 as shown in Fig. 4, the free end thereof extending toward the upper end of the elevator 10 and is trained about a pulley 71 which is pivoted on the upper end of front frame 20. A similar pulley 74 is pivoted on trough 12 at the lower end thereof as shown in Fig. 1. Cable 70 is trained about pulley 71 and then about pulley 74 and terminates at its end in an anchor point 76 at the upper end of frame 20. Thus it is clear that rotation of drum 46 in a counterclockwise direction (referring to Fig. 2) will wind cable 70 on drum 46 and raise the forward end of the elevator 10, while rotation in a clockwise direction will lower the elevator.

A hand crank 72 of a convenient length is provided in order to permit an operator to conveniently raise or lower the elevator. Crank 72 is made of rectangular material such as steel or iron in this instance and is bent to the shape shown. A rotatable handle 74 is provided which is freely mounted on a bolt 76.

Bolts 78 and 80 are provided and which are a tight fit in crank disk 60, and are diametrically positioned as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

When crank 72 is in its locked or inoperative position it is parallel to and in contact with disk 60 as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4. Crank 72 is provided with an aperture 82 which freely surrounds bolt 80 and is preferably of a shape shown in Fig. 2 to permit crank handle 72 to move freely on bolt 80. Bolt 80 is of sufficient length to permit assembly with a coil spring 84 which urges crank 72 in positive contact with the front face of crank disk 60. A washer 86' and nut' 88 provides the means of adjusting and retaining spring 84 on bolt 80, and a cotter pin 90 prevents loss of nut 88.

The end of crank 72 engages bolt 78 and is bifurcated longitudinally as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and which end is formed cylindrically as at 92, so that the bifurcations 94 and 96 embrace bolt 78 freely and define a slot A washer 100 and nut 102 confine cylindrical portion 92 axially and a cotter pin 104 prevents loss of nut 102.

Crank 72 is so formed that in its inoperative position it rests on a step 106 as shown in Fig. 4. Stop 106 can be of a cylindrical shape, and in this instance it has a base 108 which is bolted to frame 18. A washer ill is provided and is bolted to the end of stop 1% by a screw 112. The primary purpose of washer 110 is to prevent crank 72 from becoming accidentally disengaged from stop 106 if the elevator is subjected to vibration when in transit.

When raising or lowering the elevator it by means of crank 72, the operator grasps the crank, shown dotted in Fig. 4, by handle 74 and moves it to the position shown in solid lines. The crank can now be rotated about shaft 50. When the adjusting operation has been effected, the spring 84 is permitted to urge crank 72 toward crank disk 60. In this position crank 72 will rest against stop 106, arresting further rotation.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A safety winch crank, for an elevator having a frame, a shaft and a disk fixed normal to said shaft and having a front face, a means for manually rotating said shaft comprising a handle diametrically positioned across said face, said handle being provided with a cylindrical extremity the axis thereof being parallel to said face and normal to said handle, said extremity being provided with a central notch longitudinally of said handle and normal to said face, and an elongated aperture in said handle spaced longitudinally from said notch, a first and second stud fixed to said disk and extending normal to said face, said first stud being embraced by said notch, and means to prevent displacement of said handle axially of said first stud, said elongated aperture embracing said second stud for axial displacement of said handle, resilient means on said second stud urging said handle into contact with said face, and a stop member on said frame in the rotative path of said handle when the latter is in contact with said face.

2. A winch crank, for an elevator having a frame, a shaft and a disk fixed to said shaft and having a face, a means for manually rotating said shaft comprising a handle diametrically positioned across said face, said handle being provided with a cylindrical extremity, the axis thereof being parallel to said face and normal to said handle, said extremity being provided with a central notch longitudinally of said handle and normal to said face and an elongated aperture in said handle spaced longitudinally from said notch, a first and second stud fixed integrally with said disk and extending normal to said face, said first stud being embraced by said notch, and means to prevent displacement of said handle axially of said first stud, said elongated aperture embracing said second stud for axial displacement of said handle, resilient means on said second stud urging said handle into contact with said face, and a stop member on said frame in the rotative path of said handle when the latter is in contact with said face.

3. A winch crank for an elevator having a frame, a shaft and an enlarged portion fixed thereon having a normal face, a means for manually rotating said shaft comprising a handle diametrically positioned across said face, and being formed with a cylindrical extremity, the axis thereof being parallel to said face and normal to said handle, said extremity being provided with a central notch longitudinally of said handle and normal to said face, and

an elongated aperture in said handle spaced longitudinally from said notch, a first and second stud fixed integrally with said disk and extending normal to said face, said first stud being embraced by said notch, means to prevent displacement of said handle axially of said first stud, said elongated aperture embracing said second stud for substantial radial limitation and permitting axial displacement of said handle, resilient means on said second stud biasing said handle into contact with said face, and a stop member on said frame in the rotative path of said handle when the latter is in contact with said face.

4. A winch means for an elevator having a frame, a shaft having an enlarged portion provided with a front face normal to the axis of said shaft, a means for manually rotating said shaft comprising a handle diametrically positioned across said face, and being formed with a tubular extremity the axis thereof being parallel to said face and normal to said handle, said extremity being provided with a central notch longitudinally of said handle and normal to said face and an elongated aperture in said handle spaced longitudinally from said notch, a first and second stud fixed integrally with said disk and extending normal to said face, said first stud being embraced by said notch, and means to prevent displacement of said handle axially of said first stud, said elongated aperture embracing said second stud for axial displacement of said handle, resilient means on said second stud biasing said handle into contact with said face, and stop means on said frame in the rotative path of said handle when the latter is in contact with said face.

5. A winch means for an elevator having a shaft having an enlarged portion provided with a face normal to the axis of said shaft, a means for manually rotating said shaft comprising a handle diametrically positioned across said face, and being provided with a rolled extremity parallel to the plane of said handle, said extremity being provided with a central notch longitudinally of said handle and normal to said face and an elongated aperture in said handle spaced longitudinally from said notch, a first and second stud fixed integrally with said disk and extending normal to said face, said first stud being embraced by said notch, and means to prevent displacement of said handle axially of said first stud, said elongated aperture embracing said second stud for axial displace ment of said handle, resilient means on said second stud biasing said handle into contact with said face, and stop means to engage said handle when the latter has been urged into contact with said face.

6. A winch means for an elevator having a shaft having an enlarged portion provided with a face normal to the axis of said shaft, a means for manually rotating said shaft comprising a handle having an extremity and diametrically positioned across said face and being provided at said extremity with a central notch longitudinally of said handle, and an elongated aperture in said handle spaced longitudinally from said notch, a first and second stud passing through said disk and extending normal to said face, said firststud being embraced by said notch and means to prevent displacement of said handle axially of said first stud, said elongated aperture embracing said second stud and permitting axial displacement of said handle, resilient means on said second stud biasing said handle into contact with said face, and stop means to engage said handle when the latter has been urged into contact with said face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,167,562 Hutler Jan. 11, 1916 1,351,639 Gilley Aug. 31, 1920 2,054,741 Davis Sept. 15, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 842,721 Germany June 30, 1952 

